Clubs threaten Zambia breakaway

Bwalya is recognised as the legitimate president of Faz by Fifa

The ongoing crisis in Zambian football has escalated after some clubs, opposed to Kalusha Bwalya’s reign, threatened to form a breakaway league.

Six clubs are reported to be contemplating the move after their quest to remove the president of Football Association of Zambia (Faz) failed on Saturday.

A rival group headed up by Andrew Kamanga had wanted a vote of no-confidence in Bwalya’s committee during Saturday’s annual general meeting in Kabwe to force elections.

But it was not successful after the Mazabuka United, who filed the motion, withdrew their action before the event attended by Fifa and Caf representatives.

Yet there was considerable confusion as Mazabuka tried to verbally re-affirm the motion at Saturday’s meeting, only to be told that they could only do so in writing.

This prompted the Kamanga-led body to convene a meeting of some clubs to start the process of forming a rival league in the country.

“We met at another exclusive lodge and we resolved to form a national football league and that is secession from the Football Association of Zambia,” Simata Simatta, the acting general secretary of a breakaway body within Faz told BBC Sport.

“We have representative clubs from all the provinces of our country and this week they will be having a meeting to officially declare their position.

“We understand that there are about six clubs in the top flight who are going to engage their sponsors over this move and by Tuesday there should be firm confirmation.”

Faz was thrown into turmoil in September when four members of its executive committee resigned, citing differences with Bwalya.

Bwalya, the 1988 African Footballer of the Year, responded by co-opting a number of members on to his committee – a move deemed valid by Fifa.

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